Chapter 4

Hear³ the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants⁶ of the land, because [there is] no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

By swearing,² and lying,¹⁵ and killing,² and stealing,² and committing adultery,² they break out,¹ and blood toucheth¹ blood.

Therefore shall the land mourn,⁴ and every one that dwelleth⁶ therein shall languish,⁴⁹ with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.¹¹

Yet let no man strive,⁴ nor reprove⁵⁵ another: for thy people [are] as they that strive⁵⁶ with the priest.

Therefore shalt thou fall¹ in the day, and the prophet also shall fall¹ with thee in the night, and I will destroy¹ thy mother.

My people are destroyed⁸ for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected¹ knowledge, I will also reject⁴ thee, that thou shalt be no priest¹⁵ to me: seeing thou hast forgotten⁴ the law of thy God, I will also forget⁴ thy children.

As they were increased, so they sinned¹ against me: [therefore] will I change⁵⁵ their glory into shame.

They eat⁴ up the sin of my people, and they set⁴ their heart on their iniquity.

And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish¹ them for their ways, and reward⁵⁵ them their doings.

For they shall eat,¹ and not have enough:⁴ they shall commit whoredom,⁵² and shall not increase:⁴ because they have left off¹ to take heed² to the LORD.

Whoredom and wine and new wine take away⁴ the heart.

My people ask⁴ counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth⁵⁵ unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused [them] to err,⁵² and they have gone a whoring⁴ from under their God.

They sacrifice¹⁷ upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense¹⁷ upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof [is] good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom,⁴ and your spouses shall commit adultery.¹⁷

I will not punish⁴ your daughters when they commit whoredom,⁴ nor your spouses when they commit adultery:¹⁷ for themselves are separated¹⁷ with whores,⁶ and they sacrifice¹⁷ with harlots: therefore the people [that] doth not understand⁴ shall fall.¹¹

Though thou, Israel, play the harlot,⁶ [yet] let not Judah offend;⁴ and come⁴ not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up⁴ to Bethaven, nor swear,¹¹ The LORD liveth.

For Israel slideth back¹ as a backsliding⁶ heifer: now the LORD will feed⁴ them as a lamb in a large place.

Ephraim [is] joined⁷ to idols: let him alone.⁵⁴

Their drink is sour:¹ they have committed whoredom⁵² continually:⁵³ her rulers [with] shame do love,¹ Give³ ye.

The wind hath bound her up¹ in her wings, and they shall be ashamed⁴ because of their sacrifices.